Lunch with an Osprey

I had been out walking for a bit yesterday despite the heat and humidity. I stopped at the grocery store for some this 'n' that, and going around back to take the shortcut home I heard an Osprey making a racket. Well, that's not unusual, given that there's a semi-permanent nest atop the broadcast tower there at Toppa Field. But there was nobody up in the nest. Instead, the Osprey making all the noise was on a lighting stanchion closer to the street, and lo and behold it had a fish!

This was one of the two young'uns of this year's brood; the other one was across the field sitting atop another stanchion. Aside from other indications (like fewer black markings on the neck and chest and orange rather than yellow eyes), the best way to tell its age is the fact that it's now August and this bird is still staying around the nest. When the young birds finally fledge and don't need Mama and Papa to feed them any more, the adult birds head off; since they're not raising youngsters any more, they no longer need a nest. But the kids hang around the nest until migration time, mainly because the nest is the only roost they're familiar with. So the following three shots are of one of this year's brood enjoying some lunch.

Comments: 12

señoritafish (oxyjulis californica) Aug 11, 2009, 5:52pm EDT

Wow, great bird shots! So who was he yelling at? Or was he just bragging he caught a fish all by himself?

Roy ☯ Hilbinger Aug 11, 2009, 6:10pm EDT

It may have been a mixture of both; there was certainly a lot of foot traffic on the sidewalk below. Plus this one's sibling was on the other side of the field making noise, and since it appeared to be fishless, I'm assuming it was saying "I'm comin' over there to steal that from you!" And this one was saying "Yeah? You and what army?"

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Robert S. Aug 11, 2009, 6:32pm EDT

Very nice Roy. I spent a very pleasent hour several years ago near Chama, New Mexico watching a mama Osprey feeding her young. She had a great nesting location because she would leave the nest, disappear behind some trees and very shortly she would return with a fish in her talons. Just like running to the corner store.

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flit . Aug 11, 2009, 7:09pm EDT

that's very cool ... love the dialog in your comment too LOL

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Marianne R. Aug 11, 2009, 7:50pm EDT

Great photos. We were watching them pick fish out of the lagoon this moring, but they fly off into the trees on the opposite side. Even with a great telephoto lens, you'de still have a tough time getting a shot of this clarity.

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elizabeth e. Aug 11, 2009, 8:44pm EDT

Fantastic shots, Roy. How was the fish? Did he share?

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JOHN BECK Aug 11, 2009, 9:59pm EDT

The last time I saw a pair of osprey and their nest was near Mt. St. Helens in Washington. They are magnificent and these photos are remarkable!

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Sue M. Aug 13, 2009, 11:12pm EDT

Great shots, Roy!

Thanks for posting to *My Bird Shots*!

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Wilhelmine Estabrook Aug 14, 2009, 10:12am EDT

Amazing photos.

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phil w. Aug 14, 2009, 6:49pm EDT

Great shots ,Roy ! A beautiful bird .

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Ina ♥ Tagline Free Since September '09 ♥ Aug 20, 2009, 12:27pm EDT

You get some of the greatest bird shots, even though they creep me out.

We've just discovered an osprey around here, too. We've never had them before. One flew over our backyard a couple of weeks ago, and it was nearly a religious experience.

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Lunch with an Osprey

Comments: 12

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